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What is an assistant research scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Janet Williams Ph.D.
introduction image

Assistant research scientists gather and analyze data to identify scientific problems. Then, they plan and conduct various research projects. They may work independently or collaboratively and they earn an average salary of $61,000 annually or $29 per hour.

Assistant research scientists are members of a research team who apply current knowledge and experience into ongoing research. They provide information regarding new practices and procedures implemented in experiments. They assist senior professors to ensure timely delivery and innovation. Due to the nature of the job, their observation, critical-thinking, and communication skills need to be exceptional.

Assistant research scientists mostly hold a doctorate in microbiology, behavioral science or a related field. However, you can venture into the field with a bachelor's degree, but a doctorate is usually preferred. Having some years of experience can also go a long way, but some employers hire candidates with little or no experience, since it is an entry-level position.

What general advice would you give to an Assistant Research Scientist?

Janet Williams Ph.D.Janet Williams Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Biology, College of Our Lady of the Elms

Students should try to get as much experience as possible in the early part of their careers. If they are interested in research science, they should look for laboratory positions that will teach them various techniques applicable to many fields in the medical and biological sciences (such as DNA sequencing, PCR techniques, CRISPR, ELISAs, Western Blots, histological techniques, and many others). Students should ensure that they are proficient in at least two computer programming languages (such as Python and "R") that will enable them to process the data that they are generating in the lab and will enable them to present the data in a meaningful way to their supervisors and colleagues.
ScoreAssistant Research ScientistUS Average
Salary
4.9

Avg. Salary $62,780

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.5

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 16.72%

Black or African American 8.57%

Hispanic or Latino 15.28%

Unknown 6.02%

White 52.38%

Gender

female 44.44%

male 55.56%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Assistant Research Scientist career paths

Key steps to become an assistant research scientist

  1. Explore assistant research scientist education requirements

    Most common assistant research scientist degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.3 %

    Master's

    15.9 %

    Doctorate

    15.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific assistant research scientist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Research Projects7.69%
    Data Collection7.12%
    Data Analysis5.75%
    Lab Equipment4.24%
    Cell Culture4.20%
  3. Complete relevant assistant research scientist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant research scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant research scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant research scientist resumes.
  4. Research assistant research scientist duties and responsibilities

    • Lead a group of four employees in optimizing DNA purification technologies for production DNA sequencing.
    • Evaluate patients' study eligibility via medical history, obtain informed consent, enroll patients, and achieve enrollment quotas.
    • Experience in SAS programming in biomedical research.
    • Prepare salivary samples for Cortisol ELISA assays.
  5. Prepare your assistant research scientist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant research scientist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant research scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable assistant research scientist resume templates

    Build a professional assistant research scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant research scientist resume.
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
    Assistant Research Scientist Resume
  6. Apply for assistant research scientist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an assistant research scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first assistant research scientist job

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Average assistant research scientist salary

The average assistant research scientist salary in the United States is $62,780 per year or $30 per hour. Assistant research scientist salaries range between $43,000 and $89,000 per year.

Average Assistant Research Scientist Salary
$62,780 Yearly
$30.18 hourly

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Assistant Research Scientist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Exploring more about reseaching field by building knowledge in a certain subject of research and growing the wisdom and knowledge.

Cons

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

I like to explore more in community health related field and benefit the future generations from avoidable diseases and help them with information related to health aspects.

Cons

None


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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

What I like is that,you get to interact with different people from various communities.Relationships are formed in the process

Cons

Language barrier can be a problem,because communication needs to be formed in the language that each community you interact with understands.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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